Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Epilepsy: A General Overview

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities

  • 864 Accesses

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that can be chronic, disabling, and socially isolating. The ever-improving understanding of its scientific basis, together with advances in neuroimaging, neurosurgery, and neuropharmacology, means that people with epilepsy now have many more investigations and treatment options than previously, and can expect an improved quality of life.

This chapter provides the reader with a general overview of epilepsy, detailing updated definitions and classification of seizures and epilepsy, based on the Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy (2010), as well as driving regulations. We also discuss the differential diagnosis of epilepsy, investigation of blackouts, and living with epilepsy, including special client groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Fisher RS, Acevedo C, Arzimanoglou A, Bogacz A, Cross JH, Elger CE, et al. ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2014;55(4):475–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Berg AT, Berkovic SF, Brodie MJ, Buchhalter J, Cross JH, van Emde Boas W, et al. Revised terminology and concepts for organization of seizures and epilepsies: report of the ILAE Commission on Classification and Terminology, 2005–2009. Epilepsia. 2010;51(4):676–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Blume WT, Luders HO, Mizrahi E, Tassinari C, van Emde Boas W, Engel Jr J. Glossary of descriptive terminology for ictal semiology: report of the ILAE task force on classification and terminology. Epilepsia. 2001;42(9):1212–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Blair RD. Temporal lobe epilepsy semiology. Epilepsy Res Treat. 2012;2012:751510. doi:10.1155/2012/751510.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Salanova V, Andermann F, Olivier A, Rasmussen T, Quesney LF. Occipital lobe epilepsy: electroclinical manifestations, electrocorticography, cortical stimulation and outcome in 42 patients treated between 1930 and 1991. Surgery of occipital lobe epilepsy. Brain. 1992;115(Pt 6):1655–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Scheffer IE, Berkovic SF, Capovilla G. The organization of the epilepsies: report of the ILAE commission on classification and terminology. ILAE website. Accessed 2014 Feb.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Thurman DJ, Beghi E, Begley CD, Berg AT, Buchhalter JR, Ding D, et al. Standards for epidemiologic studies and surveillance of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2011;52 Suppl 7:2–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pringsheim N, Fiest K, Jette N. The international incidence and prevalence of neurological conditions: how common are they? Neurology. 2014;83:1661–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Sander JW. The epidemiology of epilepsy revisited. Curr Opinion Neurol. 2003;16:166–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. MacDonald BK, Cockerell OC, Sander JW, Shorvon SD. The incidence and lifetime prevalence of the neurological disorders in a prospective community-based study in the UK. Brain. 2000;123(Pt 4):665–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Smith PEM. If it’s not epilepsy…. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001;70 Suppl 2:ii9–ii14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Smith D, Defalla BA, Chadwick DW. The misdiagnosis of epilepsy and the management of refractory epilepsy in a specialist clinic. Q J Med. 1999;92:15–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Benbadis SR, Allen HW. An estimate of the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Seizure. 2000;9:280–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Meierkord H, Will B, Fish D, Shorvon S. The clinical features and prognosis of pseudoseizures diagnosed using video-EEG telemetry. Neurology. 1991;41(10):1643–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mellers JDC. The approach to patients with ‘non-epileptic seizures’. Postgrad Med J. 2005;81:498–504.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Scheffer IE, Bhatia KP, Lopes-Cendes I, Fish DR, Marsden CD, Andermann E, et al. Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. A distinct clinical syndrome. Brain. 1995;118(Pt 1):61–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Scheffer IE, Bhatia KP, Lopes-Cendes I, Fish DR, Marsden CD, Andermann F, et al. Autosomal dominant frontal epilepsy misdiagnosed as sleep disorder. Lancet. 1994;343(8896):515–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Harris M, Bu’Lock F. Fifteen-minute consultation on limiting investigations in the fainting child. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2015;101:1–5. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2015-308422.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gregory RP, Oates T, Merry RTG. EEG epileptiform abnormalities in candidates for aircrew training. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol. 1993;86:75–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Berkovic SF, Duncan JS, Barkovich A, et al. ILAE commission neuroimaging recommendations for neuroimaging of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1997;38:1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shankar R, Cox D, Jalihal V, Brown S, Hanna J, McLean B. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): development of a safety checklist. Seizure. 2013;22(10):812–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hansotia P, Broste SK. Epilepsy and traffic safety. Epilepsia. 1993;34:852–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Levene MI, Troune JQ. Causes of neonatal convulsions. Arch Dis Child. 1986;61:78–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Nelson KB, Ellenberg JH. Prognosis in children with febrile seizures. Pediatrics. 1978;61:720–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sander JW, Hart YM, Johnson AL, Shorvon SD. National General Practice Study of Epilepsy: newly diagnosed epileptic seizures in a general population. Lancet. 1990;336(8726):1267–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Morrow J, Russell A, Guthrie E, Parsons L, Robertson I, Waddell R, et al. Malformation risks of antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy: a prospective study from the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006;77(2):193–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Derry CP. Sleeping in fits and starts: a practical guide to distinguishing nocturnal epilepsy from sleep disorders. Pract Neurol. 2014;14:391–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Meadow KJ, Baker GA, Browning N. Fetal antiepileptic drug exposure and cognitive outcomes at age 6 years (NEAD study): a prospective observational study. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12(3):244–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Duncan S, Read CL, Brodie MJ. How common is catamenial epilepsy? Epilepsia. 1993;34:827–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Olafsson E, Hauser WA, Gudmundsson G. Fertility in patients with epilepsy: a population based study. Neurology. 1998;51:71–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the EEG department, Dr. Gareth Payne, and Dr. Benny Thomas, University Hospital of Wales, for the EEG figures.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    A. Johnston MB, MRCP, MB, BCh, BAO

  2. University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    R. Wynford-Thomas MBBCh (MRCP UK)

  3. Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    P. E. Smith MD, FRCP, FacadMEd

Authors
  1. A. Johnston MB, MRCP, MB, BCh, BAO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Wynford-Thomas MBBCh (MRCP UK)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. E. Smith MD, FRCP, FacadMEd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NHS Trust, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Vee P. Prasher

  2. Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Mike Kerr

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Johnston, A., Wynford-Thomas, R., Smith, P.E. (2016). Epilepsy: A General Overview. In: Prasher, V., Kerr, M. (eds) Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39144-1_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39142-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39144-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation